A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

Chapter 18

NIALL'S POV (still)

I heard Abby's mother calling me from the house.

"I'll be back in a few babe.", I whispered to Abby as I kissed her cheek.

I ran out of the stables to meet Abby's mother.

"Hello Mrs. Higgins, nice to meet you.", I greeted her like my mum always told me to do. It is considered good manners.

"Oh just call me Claire. I wanted to talk before you all run off on a ride if you don't mind."

"Sure Mrs....I mean Claire.", I answered.

"Let's go inside, shall we?"

She opened the door to reveal a very nice home. It was full of pictures of Abby as a child. All of her friends and family had pictures on the walls. Claire led me to the kitchen where she sat down at the table.

"What did you want to talk about?", I asked.

"So I'm just going to ask, are you and Abby dating?"

I was so shocked at the question that I couldn't speak. I just stared at her with my mouth gaping open. I barely even had a voice to answer.

"Umm..to be truly honest, yes ma'am we are dating. I didn't want to have to tell you this without asking your permission first. I truly care for your daughter and I will care for her with all that I have.", I explained.

"Niall, you don't have to ask permission to date my daughter. I'm happy she found you. I just don't get why you brought her back. I mean, you're famous and I expect that you have a very tight schedule. How will you be able to see Abby being on tour all the time?"

"Well ma'am, that's what we all came here for. We are meeting with all the girl's parents tonight to discuss the matter. "

"Well, my husband doesn't get home until later. Maybe by the time you're done riding, he will be home.", Claire exclaimed.

"Can I ask a favor of you?", I pondered how to ask her.

"Yes. What is this favor?"

"I want to plan a special event this evening for Abby but I need your help. I don't know this place and all its secret hiding spots. I'd like to get Abby alone so we could have a secluded picnic and to give her this." I pulled a golden locket out of my pocket and dangled it in front of Claire. The locket had a torn picture on one side. I saw Abby wearing an old, rusty locket when we first met and I decided to get her a new one.

"It is beautiful. What's in it?", Claire asked.

"A picture of me, or at least when I was younger. I live in Ireland, but now that I'm on tour a lot I decided to bring a little piece of home with me. It's my grandmothers locket."

"This may seem all to weird but, where John and I first met and started a family was in Ireland. We had Abby about a year later. John's job had him to move to America when Abby was about three. So she never really knew that we lived there. I never really talk about it. Not after what happened at least.", Claire explained to me with blackened eyes. She seemed saddened, talking about her past in Ireland. What had happened to them?

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I know this is a short chapter. I'm so disappointed that I couldn't write any more!!! WRITER'S BLOCK SUCKS GUYS!!!! I will try to update more since I'm on summer break!!! :) keep reading, commenting and voting my lovelies! :)

Xoxo

-TaylorElyse<3